Identification of Surface Antigens of Sarcocystis muris (Coccidia)

Zoites of Sarcocystis muris were recovered from the skeletal muscles of infected mice by trypsin digestion. Extracts of zoites prepared by freeze-thaw, Triton X-100 (0.1%), or a combination of the two treatments contained antigenic components. Testing of these antigens by agar gel diffusion and immunoelectrophoresis against sera from infected mice showed one major precipitin band. SDS-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of the extracts revealed at least eight detectable polypeptides ranging in molecular weight from 10,000 to 220,000. The antigenic components of the extract were identified by labeling the parasite surface with ¹²⁵I] and precipitation of the ¹²⁵I]-labeled antigens with immune sera. Analysis of the immunoprecipitates by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography revealed three antigens with molecular weights of 27,500, 43,000 and 90,000. The smallest of these was the predominant antigen as suggested by labeling intensity.